Dinner for Two: Valentine’s Day Edition
Though Valentine's Day looks different this year, I believe that we can still make the most of it with our loved ones at home. Maybe you like to go out to a restaurant on Valentine's Day, or go to the movies and then get ice cream afterwards. Whatever the case is, this blog post is going to show you that you can still have a great Valentine's Day, while staying home and staying safe.
In this blog post, I will be telling you the recipes and procedures for different dinner dishes that you can cook with your loved one if it's dinner for two. Keep reading until the end for some bonus dessert recipes!
New York Strip with Mashed Potatoes and Green Beans
If your local grocery store has a fresh meat section, try to find a New York Strip steak. My husband and I prefer New York Strip because of its fat-to-meat ratio. We typically pair our protein source with a starch, such as mashed potatoes, and a vegetable of some sort for balance (in this case, green beans).
Here is how we make this dinner:
For the New York Strip~
put your pan on medium-high heat (no need to spray the pan, as the steak will have oil on it)
turn your oven on to 400 Degrees Fareinheit
lightly oil both sides of teh steak with your choice of olive oil
season the steak with salt, pepper, chipotle red pepper, and mustard powder
after the pan is at a medium-high heat, put the steak on the pan
flip the steak about 3 times, cooking about 1 minute each side
turn the heat down to low (about 2-3) and make a butter mixture of butter, honey, cinnamon, and some sort of spice (we use cayenne to cut the sweetness) and salt (we use unsalted butter, so that is why we add salt)
spoon the butter mixture over the cooked steaks, and put the steak with the pan in the oven
cook the steak to your desired donesness, and after taking them out of the oven, let them rest on a cutting board or plate for 2-3 minutes
For the mashed potatoes~
using yellow gold or russet potatoes, rinse them & cube them up into bite-size pieces (we usually do one potato per person)
put the cubed potatoes into a cooking pot, and cover the potatoes in some sort of based liquid (you can use water, chicken brother, beef broth, etc.)
cook the potatoes in the boiling liquid for 15-17 minutes, until they are soft (this can vary depending on the size of the cubed potatoes)
strain the potatoes, and place them back into the pot to be mashed
combine these ingredients with a hand mixer until well combined:
butter, heavy whipping cream, salt, pepper, garlic powder, minced garlic, chives & parsley (season with your heart!)
For the green beans~
we usually purchase green beans from the freezer section of the grocery store, as we have learned that they are picked at their ripest point & flash-frozen to maintain their freshness)
cook the green beans according to the cooking directions on the package
Bang Bang Shrimp with Jasmine Rice
There is one Bang Bang Shrimp recipe we always use, and that is this Bang Bang Shrimp recipe by Valentina's Corner on Pinterest.
For the jasmine rice, we honestly use the Uncle Ben's 90-Second Microwave Rice from the rice aisle of the grocery store. The natural flavor is so good, you don't need to add any additional seasonings or butter to it. Plus, jasmine rice is typically used in Asian restaurants, as it has that light and fluffy texture you remember.
The Best Homemade Alfredo Sauce
If you do not like seafood or red meat, than this sauce recipe is for you!
We always follow this homemade alfredo sauce recipe by The Salty Marshmallow on Pinterest. You can combine this sauce into any pasta type of your choice!
You can also make some dinner rolls fromt eh freezer section, if you want some bread to dip in your leftover sauce. We love having pasta night with leftovers for the next day. If you are 21+, you can pair this alfredo sauce pasta with some white wine!
BONUS: Desserts!
If you’ve read to this point, congrats! You get to learn about 3 different desserts to make on your date night at home.
#1: Lemon White Chocolate Chip Cookies
If lemon & white chocolate sound like a heavenly match to you, then you are in for a treat! We have made this exact recipe about 3 times, and somehow it tastes better every time.
We follow this recipe by Modern Honey on Pinterest.
#2: Cinnamon Sugar Soft Pretzel Bites
You will be snacking on these bad boys all night, and they are absolutely delicious! It is hard to keep your hands off of them.
We use this recipe by Like Mother Like Daughter on Pinterest.
#3: M&Ms Kisses Pretzel Bites
Okay...I know this another pretzel bites recipe, but hear me out! These can keep in the fridge all week, and are perfect for every season and every date night. If you are lucky enough to get your hands on the pink & white Valentine's M&Ms, these will be perfect for Valentine's Day! And imagine how cute these would look during Easter!
Here is what you do~
you’ll need: 1 bag of Hershey’s Kisses (12 ounces)
as many m&m’s and pretzels as you want to eat! (we recommend 60-80)
preheat the oven to 350 Degrees Fareinheit, and line a rimmed sheet pan with parchment paper
place pretzels on prepared rimmed sheet pan, and place kisses in the center of each pretzel
bake for 3-5 minutes, or until candy is softened
place one M&M on top of each Kiss, pushing down gently. Let cool.
Let me know if you try out any of these recipes on Valentine's Day, or any date night for that matter! There's no reason you can't have a good time making food & have the food be good as well.
Make sure to use the tashtag #InspiredByDiane on social media to get my attention if you use these recipes!
